ANALYSIS once again exhibits his characteristic indecisiveness struggling to air his side.

Esperanza storms out

before telling Alfredo that if he wants to break off the engagement because he has grown tired of
The storys protagonist is Alfredo, a lawyer engaged to Esperanza. In the very beginning of the her, do so. This time Alfredo knows that the final word had been said.
narrative, it is implied that Alfredo is not in a hurry to get married.
Eight years later, Alfredo is travelling to Julias town, Sta. Cruz. Although Alfredo was still
Even though Alfredo admits he pursued Esperanza initially with great hunger, his feelings thinking of Julia, he was not unhappy being married to Esperanza.
seemed to have mellowed and are being replaced with doubt. He asks himself if he missed true love
as he has become bored with the insipid monotonies of his relationship with Esperanza. Love as In Sta. Cruz, Alfredo unexpectedly met Julia. However it was not long before he realized that--
viewed by many was something divine and magical, a puzzle that will forever ensnare a persons though Julia has barely changed--something had gone. He analyzes the situation, trying to point
fancy. out whether it was him or Julia who lost that something. He attempts to rekindle his feelings for
her but it only reinforces his conclusion that his love for Julia for the past eight years, he imagined
For Alfredo, the eternal puzzle was Julia. In one of their conversations, Alfredo somewhat implies still burning, has long been extinguished.
that his relationship with Esperanza was like a road that is too broad, too trodden by feet, too
barren of mystery. He proceeds by comparing his meeting with Julia as a road, upturned to the The story ends with a tinge of sadness. Readers cant help but sympathize with Alfredo, a man who
stars where the fireflies glimmered, while an errant breeze strayed in from somewhere, bringing gave up a dream because he has grown to accept the life that he has, a life prescribed to him by
elusive, faraway sounds as of voices in a dream. society. One cant help but pity Julia as well, who seemed to still harbor some special feelings for
Alfredo and to some extent, for Esperanza who felt at times her husband as immeasurably far
Though Julia was quite verbally coy with her feelings, it was obvious that she had fallen in love away, beyond her reach. Even with the closure presented in the story, readers are compelled to ask
with Alfredo. When Julia tells Alfredo that she was going home and that this would be their last questions. Will Alfredo become a better husband after realizing that he no longer has feelings for
meeting, she is disappointed by Alfredos subdued reaction. Julia? Did Alfredos epiphany come from the fact that he is somewhat satisfied with his marriage
with Esperanza? If Alfredo married Julia, would he be thinking about Esperanza?
Julia, at that time, has yet to discover Alfredos engagement to Esperanza. As a result, Julia felt
angry as to why he would not follow her, rebuffing Alfredos attempt to meet her before she goes The three main characters of the narrative appear to be trapped in a fate not of their own choosing.
home. Alfredo defends his indecisiveness, admitting to Julia that he could not get rid of old things, Dead Stars is not your typical love story wherein love that is burning with passion overcomes all
mistakes, encumbrances, old baggage. the obstacles thrown against it. In the tradition of romantic tales, people are destined to be with
other people. Love is supposed to be written in the stars, and if a person is meant to be with another
A few days after, Alfredo meets Julia where he is congratulated by her for his approaching
person then no matter what happens that person will always end up with that other person. But
wedding. Alfredo, noticing Julias nonchalant tone, indirectly implores for some sympathy. After
Benitezs story reveals the complicated at the same time humdrum aspect of real love. For
inviting Julia to come to his wedding, Alfredo asks if whether she had in the past been forced to
thousands of years, humans have looked up to the night sky and saw their ancestors, gods, and
choose between something she wanted to do and something she had to do. Alfredos attempt works.
goddesses. Now these heavenly bodies have been stripped of their magic and mythology, they have
Alfredo was able to penetrate Julias defenses. Though Julia strongly rebuffed Alfredo, she could become mere large balls of gas that will someday expire. In Dead Stars, the same treatment is
not help but salvage what was left of their relationship. Julia once again puts her heart on her sleeve given to love. It is stripped of its decorations, hyperboles, and illusions. In the story, love does not
and asks Alfredo whether this man was sure of what he will do. Unfortunately for Julia, all she choose the person; it is the person who chooses to love, regardless if it turns out to be an
gets is Alfredos indecisiveness. She bids him goodbye, and Alfredo is left wondering whether the exaggeration of the commonplace or a glorification of insipid monotonies.
final word had been said.
PLOT
In the next part of the narrative, Alfredo is being confronted by Esperanza. In the preceding parts of
Introduction: At Don Julians house, Carmen was asking Don Julian about Alfredo and Esperanza.
the story, Esperanza has been much maligned by Alfredo, describing her as no longer young,
Alfredo reminisced how he met Julia Salas.
literal-minded, and intensely acquisitive. Here, Esperanza breaks from the Maria Clara image
that is imposed on her. She shares to Alfredo that she is not blind or deaf. She challenges Alfredo Rising Action: Alfredo had gone neighboring with Don Julian to Judge Del Valles house. He met
to speak out frankly that he does not have to think of what she or other people would say. Alfredo Julia Salas. All the time he was calling her Mrs. Del Valle which led him to embarrassment
afterwards. Coming to the Judges house became often. Then he realized he was in love with Julia time the romance was just starting to blossom would expectantly cool down that it argues a
despite his engagement with Esperanza. certain placidity of temperament or of affection on the part of either, or both.

Climax: After the procession for The Lady of Sorrows, Alfredo caught up with Julia. It was when Another factor to be considered was the contrast of Alfredo and Julias personalities. Alfredo was
Julia found out about Alfredos wedding so she congratulated him. Alfredo needs to make a very calm and placid while Julia was lively and full of vitality. The difference between them must
difficult situation. Would he choose what he WANTS to? Or would he choose what he HAS to? have excited him as he saw in her the things he lacked.

Falling Action: Julia wants Alfredo to honor his understanding with Esperanza so she said goodbye. However, though aware he was of the possible reasons why he, as well as men, or even humans in
Alfredo went home to Esperanza. And there, the last word has been said. general, succumb to acts or thoughts of subtle infidelity, his attitude towards what is moral and not
becomes shadowed in the attempts to justify his own behavior. Stances about the argument he had
Denouement: Alfredo and Esperanza got married. After eight years, he went to Sta. Cruz, Julias with Esperanza regarding the latters anger toward Calixtas cohabitation with the man shes not
hometown, to search for a lady named Brigida Samuy who is important for his defense in the court. married to, may vary. But again, ones act was expected to adhere with what is the established
He went to Julias house and he found her there, still unmarried. And he realized that his love for morality in a certain society. Because of what seemed as a liberal notion, Alfredo was trapped in a
Julia was like a Dead Star. It was non-existent. situation where he has to defend himself and in the process, what was manifested was his greed.

Theme: "Dead Stars" by Paz Marquez Benitez is conveying the theme that pertains to forbidden But the wedding materialized; He chose not to break his word probably in order to save himself,
love. It says that forbidden love is only apparent, and its banes haunt the person until such time that Esperanza and Julia from social ridicule. He felt that his moral and social obligations were already
he realizes his faults. fulfilled upon choosing not to cause humiliation to them all. The way in which he chose to deal
with his internal change was to consider the way in which the society will view the people
Conflict: Man vs. Circumstances - "Julita," he said in his slow, thoughtful manner, "did you ever
involved. But perhaps he felt that in doing so he has deprived himself of fairness. So he became
have to choose between something you wanted to do and something you had to do?"
distant and unreachable to Esperanza although he stayed with her and treated her gently. He has
People oftentimes give high regard to the society in which they belong. They try to adhere to the developed the skill in being unaffected and somehow mastered the art of being detached.
norms, traditions and culture of their society, though sometimes the conformity would require them
Upon seeing her and finding out that she never married, he started to notice that she lost
to sacrifice a part of themselves an opinion, an emotion or a decision. However, there are cases
something, even doubted if the loss was his. As he tried to find the answer, a great realization
wherein the established norms and rules of society are the ones which should prevail. In Dead
dawned on him.
Stars, the main character, Alfredo Salazar, was torn between making two important decisions to
marry or not to marry.. He was engaged to Esperanza, his fiance of four years. Theirs was Therefore, the love he thought he felt for her during the short summer they shared was not the love
undoubtedly a love that was true. But for some reasons, apparently on Alfredos part, a change of that was enough to break an engagement. Nor was it love in its strictest definition. Instead, it was
heart has taken place. He has fallen for Julia Salas, the sister-in-law of the judge whom his father desire that sprung from the coldness that slowly crept in his relationship with Esperanza due to their
had a meeting with. In the end, however, he married his fiance and though their marriage was not long-time familiarity with each other. It was excitement that was ignited by boredom and the last
an unhappy one, he still could not take the possibilities of a future with Julia off his mind. Until one spurt of hot blood.
day, their paths crossed again and he realized one painful truth that led him to liberation at last.
Alfredo symbolizes the greed and indecisiveness of men when it comes to dealing with the matters
Human emotions are very intricate and delicate both at its lowest and highest. And so is love. When of the emotion. He had entertained the pull of an anonymous feeling. Anonymous since he never
Alfredo was still passionately attached to Esperanza, he was overwhelmed. Taking the conversation really ventured to understand it but he clung to it anyway. And in the process he lost a part of
of Alfredos sister, Carmen, and his father, Don Julian into consideration, readers can deliberately himself and deprived that part to Esperanza as well.
conclude that he was indeed in love.
Had it not been for chasing the lights of an illusive love that was long dead, or worse, never was,
Another significant reason as to his emotional wanderings could be the length of time n which he would Alfredo be happier in his marriage? Is it fair to say that he has wasted the milestones of a
was engaged o Esperanza. As what Don Julian had philosophize, couples who were engaged for so blissful marriage with a woman he loved first all for the sake of an impossible whim? Considering
long become too comfortable and familiar with each other that the spark of love that was felt at the the disappointment he manifested upon realizing what he lost, the answer, is yes.